What are the four basic types of crescent wrenches? | HowStuffWorks What are the four basic types of crescent wrenches? NEXT PAGENEXT Although the term "crescent wrench" is thrown around as though it were a type of tool, crescent wrenches got their name from the Crescent Tool Company in the early 1900s. It was first created by inventor Karl Peterson, although a wrench by the Swedish company BAHCO may have inspired Peterson's design. The term crescent wrench has since become a generic name for a type of adjustable wrench. Crescent wrenches have one fixed jaw and one movable jaw; they differ from monkey wrenches in that the jaws on a crescent wrench are nearly parallel to the handle, whereas the jaws on a monkey wrench are perpendicular to the handle. In both types, the jaws are adjusted using a worm gear that you turn with your thumb. Crescent-brand wrenches come in all forms nowadays, but there were four basic historic types of Crescent wrench: the 8-to-10-inch double-ended adjustable wrench; the 6-to-8-inch double-ended adjustable wrench; the 8-inch adjustable wrench; and the 12-inch adjustable wrench.

They differed in size, jaw opening and whether they had one set of jaws on one end, or a set on each end. Up Next Tool Safety Quiz Over time, adjustable wrenches acquired the nickname of "knucklebuster" because of the tendency of the jaws to slip off whatever you're loosening, causing you to scrape your hand against the nearest surface. That's why it's important when you're using an adjustable wrench that you position the wrench so that you're pulling toward yourself and not a potentially dangerous knuckle-busting surface. Other important adjustable-wrench rules are that the jaws should tightly hug at least three points on the nut or bolt you're loosening so you have a good grip; that you retighten the jaws any time you move the wrench to a new position; and that you position the sliding jaw so that it faces you in order to put the most pressure on the fixed jaw. All About Wrenches - Bob Vila All About Wrenches All About Miter Boxes Photo: flickr.com The first nuts and bolts, which were put to use during the early years of the Renaissance, had square heads.

The hexagonal (six-sided) design followed soon afterward and remains the dominant variety today, although square heads are still the rule on carriage and lag bolts. Whatever the number of sides (called flats) on a nut or bolt head, there are several tools designed specifically to tighten or remove them. Each of the different types have significant attributes and dis­advantages, but there are some dissimilarities between box-end, open-end, and combination wrenches. Wrenches are made with openings that are slightly larger than the nuts or bolts they are designed to fit (typically, the clearance is a few thousandths of an inch). If the fit of the wrench is too loose, however, it will round off the points of the nut or bolt head. All wrenches are available in many sizes, and can be purchased in­dividually or in sets. A small set may have six to 10 wrenches, ranging in size from perhaps five-sixteenths to one inch. Standard wrenches are sold in sixteenth-inch increments up to one and a half inches (and in metric sizes, too, of course). The length of the tool varies in proportion to its size, ranging from about four inches to almost two feet.

The logic is that the shorter (or longer) tool minimizes (or maximizes) the amount of force you can use to tighten a smaller (or larger) nut. This helps avoid shearing off bolts through the application of too much pressure. Box-end and open-end wrenches are both sold with different-sized wrenches at either end of individual tools. This economical approach means that a five-piece set will actually contain twice that many sizes of wrench. You’ll also find that two wrenches of the same size and kind can have wildly different price tags. The explanation lies in the materials and manufacturing process. The best wrenches are made of alloys like chrome or vanadium, while less expensive tools are made from molybdenum steel or are simply stamped from sheet metal. The stamped wrenches are bulkier (more material is needed for strength), and are quite useful for occasional light duty. For frequent use, however, and for virtually any automobile applications, more expensive tools will prove the better investment. Related The Essential Toolbox: 12 Tools You Can't DIY Without Box-End Wrenches. These are closed-end wrenches, typically with six or 12 points around the inside diameter of the jaws.

The six-pointed jaw is designed to fit hexagonal heads and nuts, while the 12-point configuration will also accommodate a square nut. The ends of the wrench are offset slightly. Box-end wrenches usually offer a firmer grip than do open-end wrenches. The thin wall of the jaw also makes access to nuts in tight spaces easier, but there are situations where these wrenches cannot be used, since they have to be slid on over the end of the bolt. Open-End Wrenches. The flat jaws of these wrenches are slid around nuts or bolt heads and levered for loosening or tightening. The open ends allow the tool to be slid over the nut in tight quarters where there would be insufficient space for a box wrench or a socket, or where the length of a shaft or pipe interferes. Open-end wrenches are the quickest and easiest wrenches to use, but they will not always fit into tight quarters. Combination Wrenches. Combination wrenches have an open-end jaw at one end of the tool and a box-end wrench of the same size at the other. As there are many situations where one or the other type simply won’t work, combination wrenches can be handy indeed.

However, if you require wrenches only infrequently, the added expense of combination wrenches may not be necessary. Adjustable Wrench. If space or budget considerations dictate buying only one wrench, an adjustable wrench is likely to be your best investment. The most widely used kind of adjustable is called a crescent wrench in honor of the shape of its jaws; another, called a monkey wrench, is less often used today. An adjustable wrench is larger than a fixed open-end or box-end wrench, but one adjustable alone can do the work of a number of fixed wrenches. The crescent has one jaw that is fixed and one that is adjusted by turning a worm screw. Both are open-ended, but their adjustable nature also means that they can be used on inch, metric, Whitworth and other dimensioned bolts. As flexible a tool as the crescent wrench is, the limitations of its design prevent it from having the gripping strength of a fixed wrench. It is more likely to round the points on a nut or bolt head: especially when working with machinery, fixed wrenches are preferable. As you use the adjustable, check it periodically for tightness, as sometimes the wrench will loosen.

When using an adjustable wrench, set the jaws to fit precisely over the nut, rocking the wrench slightly as you tighten the jaws to help as­sure a firm fit. Make sure as well that for added strength the nut is positioned as deep as it will go into the throat of the adjustable wrench. Adjustables can be bought in different sizes. A four-inch wrench, for example, has a maximum “bite” of half an inch, while a 12-inch model opens to one and five-sixteenths inches. Both larger and smaller models, as well as a number of sizes in between, are available. A sensible strategy is to buy two adjustable wrenches of com­plementary sizes, say, one that is six or eight inches long and another, larger wrench perhaps twelve or fifteen inches in length. Allen Wrenches. Allen wrenches are steel bars, hexagonal in section, bent into L-shapes. The shorter length is called the head, the longer one the handle. Either end can be slid into matching openings in the tops of bolts or machine screws, most often set screws used in tools and machinery to hold one part firmly in position with respect to another.

Pulleys on shafts, for example, are often fixed with set screws that are recessed into the body of the pulley. Also known as alien keys, set-screw wrenches, and hex wrenches, these small tools seem utterly irrelevant – until the moment you need one. Then they are the only solution to the problem. They are manufactured in a variety of sizes, from a sixteenth of an inch up to three-quarters of an inch, though alien wrenches larger than three-eighths of an inch are rare except in working with very large machinery. Either end of an alien wrench can be used to drive the set screws, but the handle provides more leverage. In some cramped spaces, the shorter one must be used. If added torque is required, a pair of Vicegrips or pliers may prove useful in grasping the handle of the wrench and turning it. Socket Sets. Sockets are another option in the world of wrenches. They are highly convenient and, in experienced hands, allow for remarkably speedy tightening and loosening of nuts or bolts. While they are standard in automobile shops, they have a number of uses elsewhere, in particular when working with machines. The sockets themselves are cylindrical receptacles.

One end has points that resemble those in the jaw of a box wrench, while the other has a square hole into which the driver mechanism fits. In­dividual sockets are referred to by the square opening (the drive size) and the dimension of nut over which the opposite end will fit. The handle that drives the sockets may resemble a screwdriver, though more common are ratchet handles. The ratchet eliminates the necessity of removing the socket from a nut only to refit it for another stroke when working in tight quarters where there is limited room to swing the handle. The tool will turn the bolt when swung in one direction, but will return without backing up the socket. A lever allows the process to be reversed, so that the tool can be used alter­nately for tightening or loosening. There are also cranks, extensions, hinged handles, universal joints, and other devices that are used to drive the sockets. The sockets, and the attendant mechanisms, come in many sizes. A truly complete socket set, in fact, might well consist of several hundred pieces at a cost of many hundreds of dollars.

However, a good basic household socket set with about half a dozen sockets (ranging from a quarter inch to perhaps five-eighths of an inch) and a ratchet and extension will prove useful for driving lag bolts, oc­casional repairs, and other tasks. Nine Types of Wrenches and Pliers - DIY - MOTHER EARTH NEWS Nine Types of Wrenches and Pliers Twist, turn, tighten or loosen anything with these nine essential types of wrenches and pliers. By Steve Maxwell The socket wrench is one of nine types of wrenches and/or pliers you shouldn't be without. Photo by Steve Maxwell Print Email A collection of wrenches and pliers is a standard part of any toolbox, and they’re among the most useful tools for home improvement projects and auto repair. Perhaps the biggest challenge is selecting the right tool for the job. Wrenches are designed to fit nuts, bolts and other standard fasteners. Pliers grip, turn, squeeze and rotate round or irregularly shaped objects of most any size, from baling wire to barbecue grills. One bit of advice: If you have a job that could be completed with either a wrench or pliers, use the wrench.

You’ll get better results with an appropriately sized wrench, because it won’t slip and damage the fasteners you’re working on. Pliers are always more tempting to use because one pair can grip a wide range of fastener sizes. But doing so can quickly ruin machine parts by rounding off the heads of nuts and bolts. Use a wrench whenever possible, and save the pliers for when your wrenches won’t work. Types of Wrenches A socket wrench set is invaluable because it’s so versatile. All sets include a wrench handle, an assortment of detachable sockets that fit different sizes of nuts and bolts, and a couple of extensions. Extensions lengthen the tool’s reach and snap in place between the wrench handle and the sockets. You can adjust socket wrench handles to turn the socket in either direction, using a button or lever on the handle. If you purchase only one socket set for jobs such as vehicle maintenance or home improvement, buy a half-inch system. This measurement refers to the size of the square-drive recess in the base of each socket. Half-inch sockets are versatile and will handle most small- and medium-size jobs, delivering sufficient torque without breaking.

A three-eighths-inch drive socket set doesn’t cost as much, but the socket will break more easily if you exert too much force on it. Another size is a three-quarter-inch drive socket. But unless you’ll be working on large fasteners frequently, you can save money by using another kind of wrench. Socket sets are sold in two systems of measurement: English (measured in fractions of an inch) and metric (measured in millimeters). You can use an English-unit socket on a metric-unit bolt (or vice versa), but it won’t fit precisely. For low-torque situations, the difference in measurements usually won’t cause problems, but if you use a mismatched socket and have to exert much force, it will slip. But either way, both metric and English sockets will fit the same socket handle. A socket wrench is an effective tool, but it won’t fit in some tight work spaces. Sometimes, a flat open-end wrench is the only tool that will turn a nut or bolt. Even in very tight spots, the classic U-shape of the open-end wrench usually will slip onto the fastener. A combination wrench has an open end and an enclosed end, which is called a box end.

The box end slips over the top of nuts and bolts instead of sliding in from the side like an open-end wrench. With either end, you’ll generally need to slip the enclosure over the fastener after every turn. But the box end delivers more torque with better grip on the bolt head, because the wrench head completely encircles the nut or bolt. In an ideal world, we’d all use the “proper” wrenches and sockets on every nut and bolt, but you can’t always anticipate the right size of every tool you might need. An adjustable wrench, often called a Crescent wrench, can serve as an excellent stand-in, as long as you respect the limitations of the tool. A spiral-shanked worm gear turned by your thumb opens and closes the jaws, allowing you to grip nuts and bolts in a range of sizes. Just remember two things: You should only use adjustable wrenches that are in good condition with straight, flat jaws; and never use them on fasteners that require much torque. What adjustable wrenches offer in versatility, they take back in terms of strength and safety — they’ll slip off bolt heads if you apply too much force.

Allen wrenches, also called Allen keys, are specialty tools that fit hexagonal-shaped recesses you’ll find in the heads of small- and medium-size fasteners. These wrenches are the only tools that fit a hex recess, which you’ll often find on things that require small fasteners, such as bicycles. You can lose Allen wrenches easily because they’re so small — that’s why it makes sense to buy them in a set of keys that are hinged together into a group. A pipe wrench or two also is a smart purchase. The large, adjustable jaws are oriented at 90 degrees to the handle of the tool, making it easy to apply a lot of torque to the largest nuts and pipe fittings. Think of these tools as adjustable wrenches made for heavy-duty situations. You’d never want to use a pipe wrench on the oil drain plug or wheel nuts of your vehicle, but they’re fine for pipe fittings that you expect to tighten only once. Their jaws are heavily grooved, and the adjustable head pivots slightly, tightening its grip as you turn the wrench. The Best Pliers Most pliers include handles that swivel together at a central point, allowing you to apply moderate pressure to round or irregularly shaped objects.

Different jaw shapes and sizes allow pliers to function in many different situations, though not without limitations. Lock-jaw pliers, often called Vise-Grips, are the most useful and common style. They grip well, the jaws can be locked closed at a preset width, and they are sold in a wide variety of styles. Lock-jaw pliers are great for holding together things such as irregular machine parts and slippery fasteners. Start with a pair of standard flat-jaw Vise-Grips and then add a pair of the needle-nose style (described below) when you can. If you’re tooling up for metal fabrication, wide-reach Vise-Grips are the ideal tool for holding together pieces of metal while you weld them. Needle nose pliers are finesse tools that let you sneak into confined spaces and deftly manipulate things that are too small for fingers. They come in both regular and lockable styles. The most useful have jaws 3 to 4 inches long and wire-cutting edges near the swivel point. You can buy larger or smaller pliers as needed. If you like to fish, needle-nose pliers are great for removing deeply embedded hooks from fish.

Adjustable width pliers, often called Channel lock pliers, use an adjustable jaw design to grip a wider variety of objects. The width of their closed jaws ranges from zero to 4 inches, depending on the size of pliers. The generic design has remained the same for years, but some newer models include a spring-loaded center swivel that locks the jaws into a half-dozen different widths. Unlike older styles that can slip into wider positions accidentally during use, the new designs always grip tightly. When you want to select a wider size of jaws, just push the pivot button, open or close the jaws to the desired range and then release the button to lock the tool. Beyond the wrenches and pliers mentioned here, build your toolbox a piece at a time in response to your needs. A well-organized tool collection that fits your lifestyle and workload really does make home improvement a pleasure — and extends the life of your machinery. A Word About Warranties You’ll pay slightly more for wrenches and pliers that have a lifetime warranty, but the extra cost is money well-spent. Many name-brand tools, such as those from Craftsman and Irwin, now come standard with an unlimited warranty, but ask about replacement details before you buy the tools.

The best lifetime warranties allow over-the-counter exchange of broken tools with no questions asked. Box End Wrenches - Wrenches - Hand Tools - The Home Depot Box End Wrenches Other Box End Wrenches shoppers like to browse by: Measurement Standard Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Set your store to see local availability Did you find what you were looking for? Tell us about your search experience. Your comments will help make our site better. Submit Thank you!

You have successfully submitted feedback for this search. RELATED SEARCHES URREA 1-7/8 in. 12 Point Combination Chrome Wrench-1260 - The Home Precision in a single tool on one end Precision in a single tool on one end the traditional open wrench is used for tightening nuts and bolts; on the other end a box end that allows the application of greater torque force. The open end provides the speed together with an end angle that permits two action positions ... More + Product Details Close Klein Tools 5/8 in. x 11/16 in. Ratcheting Box Wrench-68203 - The Klein Tools Ratcheting Box Wrench is great The Klein Tools Ratcheting Box Wrench is great for working in confined spaces and on long studs. This wrench has a different size opening on each end for multiple applications. Get reverse ratcheting action simply by turning the wrench over. California residents: see &nbsp; Proposition 65 information 5/8 in. and ...

More + Product Details Close Klein Tools Lineman&#39;s Insulating 4-in-1 Box Wrench-KT223X4-INS - The Home The Klein Tools Lineman?s Insulating 4-in-1 Box Wrench The Klein Tools Lineman?s Insulating 4-in-1 Box Wrench is the only double-ended 4-in-1 wrench on the market to meet the ASTM standard 1000V rating! It features a transparent handle that shows the metal ends of the wrench are not touching. The solid durable wrench features four 12-point socket sizes. California ... More + Product Details Close Adjustable Wrenches - Wrenches - Hand Tools - The Home Depot Crescent 4 in. Adjustable Wrench-AC24VS - The Home Depot The World Famous Crescent Brand 4 in. adjustable The World Famous Crescent Brand 4 in. adjustable wrench has larger knurl for easier adjustment and tighter jaw fit. A hex jaw design which reduces slippage and tightly grips bolt. Wider handle to improve comfort and reduces fatigue. Heat treated forged alloy steel for toughness and durability Laser etched scale ... More + Product Details Close Klein Tools 6 in.

Adjustable Wrench Extra-Capacity-507-6 - The Home Depot This Klein Tools 6 in. Adjustable Wrench has This Klein Tools 6 in. Adjustable Wrench has extra capacity which allows you to use a smaller size wrench to handle bigger jobs especially in confined areas. It is made of forged heat-treated alloy steel for maximum strength and light weight. Contoured high-polish chrome handles are comfortable to use. California ... More + Product Details Close Klein Tools 10 in. Adjustable Wrench-507-10 - The Home Depot Specialized for bigger jobs in confined spaces the Specialized for bigger jobs in confined spaces the Klein Tools 10 in. Adjustable Wrench is made of forged heat-treated alloy steel. It features a high-polish chrome finish. California residents: see &nbsp; Proposition 65 information Precision-machined jaws with 1-5/16 in. jaw capacity Extra-capacity design for efficient use even in confined spaces ... More + Product Details Close Wrenches Add To Wish List Ultimate Focus Tool$74.95 Hereï¿½s the newest focusing tool on the market.

The maker says itï¿½s the only tool you need while focusing. And it is a lot of tool packed into a small size. See the hex cutout? Thatï¿½s actually three cutouts that fit all the nuts and bolts on a C-clamp as well as the ï¿½ï¿½ hex bail on the side of the light. At the other end are slots to turn wing nuts and other square nuts. On one side is a continuity tester for checking lamps and on the other side is a built-in pin spreader for 20-60 amp pins. Qty: Add To Wish List Standard Focus Tool$44.95 This is a stripped down version of the Ultimate Focus Tool. Again, three cutouts fit all the nuts and bolts on a C-clamp as well as the ï¿½ï¿½ hex bail on the side of the light. At the other end are slots to turn wing nuts and other square nuts. No continuity tester and no pin spreader. Temporarily out of stock. The manufacturer of this item has been very slow to deliver product to all of his vendors. Most everyone at any one time is out of stock.

You may still order, however a delivery date is unknown. Ordering now is the only way to get on the "first come, first served" list. Qty: Average rating: $7.95 A measly 2 3/4" long and weighs practically nothing, this mini-wrench has cutouts for all the nuts and bolts on a C-clamp. It's even got a hole for a lanyard so you can wear it around your neck or on your key chain. Carry this and you'll never be caught without a wrench again! Usually shipped in black. Orders of special colors will incur a $20 additional handling charge. Qty: Altman wrench$12.95 The absolute "MUST HAVE" wrench for every electrician working in the theatre. An industry standard. Cutouts in the body fit all the bolts on the C-clamp and lamp. The "star" fits the older version metal handles on lekos and par cans. When you go up to focus lamps, you better have this wrench with you. Qty: Gator Grip Kit$59.95 Everything you need in the palm of your hand.

Maybe you've seen the "Gator Grip" on TV and you wondered if it really works. I can tell you it does! This one socket fits all nuts and bolts from 1/4" to 3/4" and all metric sizes from 9mm to 17mm. And it fits odd shapes like wing nuts and eye bolts too. The trick of the Gator Grip is that the socket is made up of 52 spring loaded steel roller pins that automatically conform to the shape of the nut, bolt or whatever else you want to tighten. And here's the best part: I've combined it with a flexible stubby ratchet and a pouch so that you have an entire lightweight socket set that fits in the palm of your hand and you can carry it on your belt! It also comes with an adapter that lets you to use the socket with your electric screwgun. When I show the Gator Grip in person--everybody wants one. This is the coolest tool I've seen in a long time.

Qty: Gator Grip Universal Socket and Adapter Gator Grip Universal Socket and Adapter1 Average rating: Flexible Stubby 3/8 inch Ratchet$24.95 Same ratchet used in the Gator Grip Kit. Qty: Klein inch Wide Jaw, Regular Dip, Adjustable Wrench$33.95 Special wide jaw opens to size of an 8" crescent. If you're going to carry just one wrench on stage, this is the wrench it should be. The perfect adjustable wrench for the stage. Small size of a 6" wrench with the capability of an 8" wrench. The extra wide jaw even fits Cheeseboroughs! No need to carry two wrenches. Plastic coated handle provides comfort and protects you from accidental shock. Made by Klein insures high quality. Each wrench is personally tested for smooth operation before it's shipped to you. You get only the best from TOOLS FOR STAGECRAFT. Qty: Add To Wish List Klein 8 inch Wide Jaw, Regular Dip, Adjustable Wrench$34.95 This is a larger version of the 6" Klein Wide Jaw Wrench. Jaw opens to size of a 10" crescent.

Why carry an 8" crescent that opens to a 10" size? How many times have you needed to change the bottle on an air lift and the nut was stuck? How long did it take you before someone "found" a wrench that was big enough to handle the nut? Be prepared with a 8" Wide Jaw Klein. Carrying an 8" wrench in your tool bag is lighter than carrying a 10" wrench. The handle is coated with same plastic coating as the regular dip 6" Klein Wide Jaw wrench. Made by Klein insures high quality. Each wrench is personally tested for smooth operation before it's shipped to you. You get only the best from TOOLS FOR STAGECRAFT. Qty: Add To Wish List Combo 8 inch Box Crescent w/ 3/8 inch Ratchet wrench$19.95 Here's a combination of the equivalent of an 8" crescent wrench and a 3/8" ratchet wrench. The boxed crescent wrench fits nuts and bolts from a 1/4" square (the set-screw on a C-clamp) to a 7/8" hex (the yoke bolt on a C-clamp).

Qty: Add To Wish List Mongo wrench$39.95 It's a huge wrench, machined out of solid aluminum plate. The Mongo-Combo wrench will fasten everything a Mega-Combo Wrench can plus the Light Source Mega-Coupler Nuts and other coupler wing nuts. If that isn't enough, a bottle opener too! Qty: Coffin Key - Hex 5/16 inch$14.95 5/16" Hand held T-handle wrench for Roto-Locks. Only 6" long. Qty: Add To Wish List Ergonomic Wide Jaw 8 inch wrench$29.95 Ergonomic grip is extremely comfortable. The jaw is marked in both inches and metric so you can open the wrench to the exact size you need in advance. Grip is a soft padded plastic designed to fit perfectly in your hand. Qty: Add To Wish List Sister Lug Key - Hex 3/16 inch$14.95 3/16" Hand held T-handle wrench primarily used by film electricians on sister lugs. Only 6" long.

Qty: Add To Wish List Klein Ratcheting Box wrench $29.95 Used primarily in Motion Pictures for sister lugs. Also handy in the theatre. This ratchet wrench will fit the set screw on C-clamps no matter which size bolt head you encounter. Square box fits 1/4" and 3/8" studs. #22110 Klein Ratcheting Box Wrench $29.95 Qty: The Wrench Guide: Types of Wrenches, Uses and Features Please Enter Your Search Term Here The Wrench Guide: Types of Wrenches, Uses and Features Choosing the right wrench for a project involves more than just matching sizes. Use the right style of wrench to make your project easier. Save Item Send to a Friend Print Wrench Types Wrenches are available in a variety of styles for a variety of applications. Some are designed to work with standard fasteners and some are for metric applications. Look for color coding on some wrenches to help you quickly identify standard or metric. Make sure you match the fastener to the wrench to make the work easier and to avoid damaging the fastener. Here are some of the more common wrench types and their uses.

Type Tightens / loosens nuts and bolts. Moveable lower jaw to adjust wrench size. Works with both standard and metric fasteners. Combination Wrench Tightens / loosens nuts and bolts. Metric and standard sizes. One open end and one box end (usually the same size). Double-Box Wrench Tightens / loosens nuts and bolts. Metric and standard sizes. Two box (or ring) ends (usually different sizes). Open-End Wrench Tightens / loosens nuts and bolts. Metric and standard sizes. Two open ends (usually different sizes). Stubby Wrench Tightens / loosens nuts and bolts in tight spaces. Metric and standard sizes. Tightens / loosens nuts and bolts. Metric and standard sizes. Ratchet action on one end moves freely in one direction and engages the fastener in the other direction to tighten or loosen without removing the tool. Some have pivoting ratchet ends for use in tight spaces. Ratchet and Socket Sets Tightens / loosens bolts. Ratchet handle connects to a variety of sockets to fit different sizes of metric and standard fasteners. Sockets are available in standard and metric sizes.

Ratcheting action lets the handle swing freely in one direction and engage the fastener in the other direction to tighten or loosen without removing the tool from the fastener. Some ratchets tighten and loosen with the twist of a wrist rather by a swinging motion. Socket extensions are available to reach into tight spaces. Torque Wrench Tightens nuts and bolts to specific foot pounds. Made to work with either 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch sockets. Sockets are available in standard and metric sizes. Crow's Foot Wrench The History of Hardware Tools and the Circular Saw By Mary Bellis Updated August 21, 2016. Hardware hand tools are used by craftsmen and builders in manual operations like chopping, chiseling, sawing, filing and forging. The date of the earliest tools is uncertain, but some found in northern Kenya in 1969 may be about 2.6 million years old. 1.

Chain Saws One of the earliest references to chain saws comes from the Canadian Medical Association Journal in an article written by Wolf Seufert, MD, DSc: "Orthopedics became a specialty with the help of a new instrument, the osteotome, invented around 1830 by the German Bernard Heine. This illustration from a contemporary inventory of surgical tools shows clearly that this clever master of prosthetics had in fact invented the chain saw. The links of the chain carried small cutting teeth with the edges set at an angle; the chain was moved around a guiding blade by turning the handle of the sprocket wheel." Several major manufacturers of chain saws claim to have invented the first one. All their claims point to the 1920s, but this 1830 osteotome would predate them all. One claim states that a California inventor named Muir was the first person to put a chain on a blade for logging purposes. But Muir's invention weighed hundreds of pounds and required a crane. This invention was neither a commercial or practical success. The 1861 Hamilton saw was hand-cranked by one or two men and looked like a spinning wheel.

The American riding saw of the 1880s resembled a rowing machine that cutters could sit upon. A saw driven by a two-cylinder, water-cooled marine-type motor is reported to have sawed through a 10-foot log in four and a half minutes in Eureka, California in 1905. It was set at 90 degrees from its normal position. German mechanical engineer Andreas Stihl patented the "Cutoff Chain Saw for Electric Power" in 1926 and the first gasoline-powered chain saw in 1929, which he called the "tree-felling machine." These were the first successful patents for hand-held mobile chain saws designed for woodcutting. Andreas Stihl is most frequently credited as being the inventor of the mobile and motorized chain saw. Finally, Atom Industries began manufacturing their own chain saws in 1972. It was the world's first chain saw company to offer a complete range of saws with patented electronic ignitions and patented turbo-action, self-cleaning air cleaners. 2. Circular Saws Large circular saws are found in saw mills and are used to produce lumber.

Samuel Miller invented the circular saw, a round metal disk saw that cuts by spinning, in England in 1777. Tabitha Babbitt, a Shaker sister, invented the first circular saw used in a saw mill in 1813. Babbitt was working in the spinning house at the Harvard Shaker community in Massachusetts when she decided to improve upon the two-man pit saws that were being used for lumber production. Babbitt is also credited with inventing an improved version of cut nails, a new method of making false teeth, and an improved spinning wheel head. William Newberry invented a band saw in 1807. 3. The Bourdon Tube Pressure Gauge The Bourdon tube pressure gauge was patented in France by Eugene Bourdon in 1849. It's still one of the most common instruments used to measure the pressure of liquids and gases of all kinds, including steam, water and air up to pressures of 100,000 pounds per square inch. Eugene Bourdon founded the Bourdon Sedeme Company to manufacture his invention. The American patent rights were bought by Edward Ashcroft in 1852.

Ashcroft played an important role in the widespread adoption of steam power in the U.S. He renamed Bourdon's gauge, calling it the Ashcroft gauge. 4. Drills and Drill Chucks A. I. Jacobs is credited with inventing the first three-jaw drill chuck, which he called “Jacob's Chuck.” He founded the Jacobs® Chuck Manufacturing Company in 1902. Martin Cherrington invented horizontal directional drilling in 1972. 5. The Pneumatic Hammer Charles Brady King of Detroit invented the pneumatic hammer driven by compressed air in 1890. He received a patent for his invention in 1894. King exhibited two of his inventions at the 1893 Worlds Columbia Exposition: a pneumatic hammer for riveting and caulking and a steel brake beam for railroad road cars. 6. The Hydraulic Jack In 1851, founder of Richard Dudgeon, Inc. and inventor Richard Dudgeon was granted a patent for his "portable hydraulic press" – the hydraulic jack. It proved to be vastly superior to the screw jacks in use at the time.

Other inventions attributed to Dudgeon include roller boiler tube expanders, pulling jacks, filter press jacks, steam forging hammers, railroad lifting equipment, heavy plate hydraulic hole punches, and many types and sizes of lifting jacks. Dudgeon was renowned for his inventions. He astounded New Yorkers by driving from his home to his place of business in an innovative steam carriage in 1855. The noise and vibration generated by the "Red Devil Steamer" frightened horses so badly that city authorities confined it to a single street. Although Dudgeon claimed the carriage could carry 10 people at 14 mph on one barrel of anthracite coal, it was far ahead of its time and failed to gain popular favor. 7. Plyers, Tongs and Pincers Plyers are hand-operated tool used mostly for holding and gripping objects. Simple plyers are an ancient invention: Two sticks probably served as the first uncertain holders but bronze bars may have replaced wooden tongs as early as 3000 BC. Round-nose plyers are used for bending and cutting wire. Diagonal cutting plyers are used for cutting wire and small pins in areas that cannot be reached by larger cutting tools.

Adjustable slip-joint plyers have grooved jaws, and the pivot hole in one member is elongated so it can pivot in either of two positions to grasp objects of different sizes. 8. Wrenches A wrench, also called a spanner, is a typically hand-operated tool that's used for tightening bolts and nuts. The tool works as a lever with notches at the mouth for gripping. The wrench is pulled at a right angle to the axes of the lever action and the bolt or nut. Some wrenches have mouths that can be tightened to better fit various objects that need turning. Solymon Merrick patented the first wrench in 1835. Charles Moncky invented the first "monkey" wrench around 1858. Robert Owen, Jr. invented the ratchet wrench, receiving a patent for it in 1913. Another patent was granted to Daniel C. Stillson, a steamboat fireman, for a wrench in September 1870. Stillson had invented the pipe wrench.

He suggested to the heating and piping firm Walworth that they manufacture a design for a wrench that could be used for screwing pipes together – serrated blacksmith tongs had previously been used for this purpose. James Walworth told Stillson to make a prototype and “either twist off the pipe or break the wrench.” Stillson's prototype twisted the pipe successfully. His design was then patented and Walworth manufactured it. Stillson was paid about $80,000 in royalties for his invention during his lifetime. NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) engineer John Vranish is credited for coming up with the idea for a "ratchetless" wrench. 9. Welding Tools Nikolai Benardos and Stanislav Olszewski were granted a patent for an electric arc welder with a carbon electrode called the "Electrogefest" in 1885. Benardos and Olszewski are considered the inventors of the welding apparatus.

Question: Box-end, monkey, and crescent are all types of what?
Answer: Wrenches